Biographies

Herbert T. Schaffner

Name:
Herbert T. Schaffner

Born:
1901

Joined AGB:
1918

Primary Dept/Div:
Individual Clients

Primary Office:
Chicago

Herbert (Herb) Schaffner was born in 1901. He was raised in the Chicago area and after high school did some retail clerking before joining Becker Chicago as a messenger in 1918. Rather promptly, his prospective talent for sales was noted and within a few years he joined the sales force. He began to build a wide ranging and loyal clientele and became and remained one of the firm’s top producers over many years, including the depression and war years. He became a general partner/shareholder in 1948, Vice President in 1953, Director in 1960, and Senior Vice President in 1967. He resigned his officership and board membership in late 1967 to concentrate on serving his clientele, including some leading midwest institutions. He was also a mentor to the younger salesmen in the Chicago office. As noted in the Chronicle, Herb was a leading contributor in the development of Becker’s institutional block trading business and practices as that business emerged in the 1960s. Herb was active individual and institutional account salesman until his retirement in 1978.

Herb was active in local civic affairs. A 50 year resident of Highland Park, Herb was a past president of the suburb’s Community Chest and had been active in fundraising for the Highland Park Community Center, which was established in the 1940s. Mr. Schaffner was a past president of Jewish Vocational Services and the Young Men’s Jewish Council of Chicago and had served as treasurer of Michael Reese Hospital.

Obituary:
Chicago Tribune, December 1, 1985. Hebert T. Schaffner, 84, Banker, a Chicago investment banker, for 66 years and a civic leader, died Friday in his home in Highland Park. He was survived by a son, two daughters, and ten grandchildren.